"Krasnodar, capitol of Kuban is a... " a Krasnodar Travel Page by Pavlik_NL

Krasnodar (means something like "Beautiful Gift") used to be called Ekaterinodar, as it was given by tsarina Kathrin the Great to the Kozaks that conquered the Kuban-region in the name of Russia (against the Osmanic Turks that roamed the lands here). Since then Krasnodar has grown to be a city of almost a million inhabitants and one of the agricultural capitols of the whole of Russia as for the furtile (black) soil and climatological prosporous environment in the Kuban lowlands.

The town borders on the Kuban river and (on the other riverbank) the autonome province of Adegia. This is actually the first of somewhat foreign influences within the Russian culture. Many Adegyans work in Krasnodar and add their specific flavour. More noticable recently is the growing group of Caucasus people, adding more colours too. Georgians, Abchasians, Armenians, Ossethians, Azeri etc. etc. come to the biggest town in this region for work and a "better life". It makes Krasnodar - especially for Russian standards - a very multicultural society.

For visitors the town and surroundings have many surprises that are presented in the most hospitable way by the Russian people. Reason can be that you will be one of the few foreign visitors to come here and intrested (and intreged) as the Russian are, you might become the middelpoint of their warm attention.